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"Don’t," he said to her in that powerful voice, the kind that could stop ar to slow her, but with Violet’s protection, it had very little effect otherwise

Fro down the far side of the nave, her steady gaze on Dora Hunting Dora laughed at Sebastian’s attempt to reach for the baby I pulled free Sebastian shoved us behind hiis had made Zeus and Athena invincible It seemed to not only protect, but to di He sla it in half One side of the balcony groaned and dropped a few feet, threatening to collapse

"Ari, duck!" I shielded the baby and ducked at Menai’s warning

Two of her arrows zipped lanced off the back of her head She hauledover the child With every cry ithi on to the child

"Violet," I pleaded

"She can’t betray me"

The lioness leaped onto Dora’s back, her iantMy hold over the baby loosened as I sturip on the child

Das swooped blazing fast over us, claws latched on to the baby as I hit the ground, the breath knocked out of h my side, the place where Athena had stabbed e wooden splinter had pierced rabbed od, the baby in his arms Relieved, I focused on Dora She was on her back but reached for her staff and shoved it against the lioness, sending the beast sailing across the roo I had to ot up There One of the arrows Menai had shot I swiped it and bolted, tackling Dora to the floor just as she started to rise Before she could react, I shoved the arrow into her eye and drove it deep into her brain

Her body shook, her legs flailing But I held the arrow still, her words whispering out of a bloody mouth with a chuckle, "I dieand she dies with h me

Denial built inmy vision as I shook Dora’s armor-clad shoulders "Violet!" Sebastian knelt beside one silent as Artemis and Apollo dispatched the last of the horrors

Everyone stared at us like it was a done deal Dora was dying and Violet with her

Horus handed the baby to Arte hard, to take stock of the situation A small tool appeared in his hand, and he shoved it up Dora’s nose My sto?"

"Making sure she stays dead"

"No!"

Before I could stop him, he pulled chunks of brain matter out of her nostril and tossed theut rolled To Dub he commanded, "Burn it"

Pale and obviously shaken, Dub set fire to Anesidora’s brains "Try co back from that," he muttered

The baby was safe in Artemis’s arms Everyone was okay Except Violet I’d killed Violet Dear God, I killed Violet I bent over Dora’s body,on her shoulder, and cried "Please come back Violet, just come back"

"Come on, Vi, you’re a Titan," Sebastian joined in "You’re stronger than Dora Come back to us"

"And what about Pascal?" Dub dropped down besideDora’s skull "Who’s going to take care of hirander s and safes filled with jewels," Henri added, standing over us, his eyes bright with tears Menai put her hand on his shoulder

Nothing happened Nohappened

My heart shrank to a hard, painful knot God, it hurt My fists clenched, a screaainst my chest I sobbed, unable to hold it in Godda Tears filled Sebastian’s eyes, and I heard Henri sniffling behind me My father’s hands fell on my shoulders He spoke to me, but I didn’t hear hiuilt and raging grief

"You’re gods," I accused "Why can’t you do so?"